English Names and Meanings
Browse 23 English names and surnames with their meanings and origins. English heritage is found in England. Names are clues, not proof of ancestry, because many families carry names shaped by migration, religion or history.
| Name | Meaning or origin |
|---|---|
| Alfred | Elf counsel, as in Alfred the Great |
| Bailey | Bailiff, steward |
| Baker | Occupational: baker |
| Bennett | From Benedict |
| Brown | From hair or clothing color |
| Carter | Cart driver |
| Charlotte | Feminine of Charles, free man |
| Clark | Clerk, a scribe or scholar |
| Cooper | Barrel maker |
| Edith | Prosperous war, Old English |
| Edmund | Rich protector, Old English |
| Eleanor | Possibly from Old Provençal Aliénor |
| Fisher | Occupational: fisherman |
| Harris | Son of Harry |
| Mason | Stoneworker |
| Oliver | Olive tree or elf army, Old French |
| Smith | Occupational name for a metalworker. Common across Britain and in many cultures worldwide. |
| Taylor | Occupational name for a tailor. |
| Turner | Lathe worker |
| Walker | Occupational name for a cloth fuller. |
| Ward | Guard, watchman |
| Wilson | Son of William |
| Wright | Craftsman |
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